MEMBERS, OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL
Mr. Steven R. Moore, District I Mr. Thomas S. Crumpton, Jr. District II
Mr. William S. Rinehart, District III Mr. Marion E. Lyles, District IV
Mr. H. Frank Ables, Jr., District V
MINUTES, SPECIAL MEETING, OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL
The Oconee County Council held a special meeting Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers with all Council Members, County Administrator Rabun, County Attorney Norton and Sheila O’Kelley present.
Press:
Members of the press notified (vial mail): Daily Journal, Keowee Courier, Westminster News, Anderson Independent, Greenville News, WGOG Radio, WSNW Radio, WYFF TV & WLOS TV.
Other Organizations Notified:
Other organizations notified (vial mail): The Oconee County Democratic Party and the Oconee County Tax Payers Association.
Call to Order:
Chairman Ables called the meeting to order.
Invocation:
Mr. Rinehart gave the invocation.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Mr. Norton led in the pledge of allegiance to the US Flag.
Public Hearing RE: Ordinance 2005-10:
At this time, Council held a public hearing to receive written and/or oral comments regarding Ordinance 2005-10, “THE FISCAL YEAR 2005-06 BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE FOR OCONEE COUNTY”.
Mr. Bobby Williams addressed Council regarding the Deputy Fire Chief’s position being essential.
A representative of the Oconee Heritage Center addressed Council regarding the need for funding for proper renovation of the building.
Minutes, Special Meeting, Oconee County Council June 14, 2005
Public Hearing RE: Ordinance 2005-10 Continued:
Mr. Walter Lee addressed Council regarding the need to keep the Rural Fire Chief.
Ms. Charlotte Barnwell addressed Council regarding the Strawberry Farm Road Convenience Center.
Mr. Bob Kinder addressed Council regarding the need for additional dispatchers, in support of the Assistant Rural Fire Chief and Emergency Management.
Mr. Larry Wilkerson addressed Council in support of fully funding the Rural Fire Budget.
Ms. Susie Cornelius addressed Council regarding funds taken from reserves, her dislike of the organizational chart.
Mr. Jay Brown addressed Council regarding the Pickens County Budget v. the Oconee County Budget; it is his opinion that the Oconee County Budget is too high.
Ms. Misty Lee addressed Council in support of Rural Fire and the Assistant Rural Fire Chief.
Mr. Davis Wright addressed Council in support of the Rural Fire Chief.
Ms. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding their compassion for all people.
Mr. Tim Grant addressed Council in support the Rural Fire Chief.
Mr. Benjamin Ables addressed Council regarding going back to the Supervisor form of government.
Mr. Travis Collins addressed Council in support of the Rural Fire Chief.
In response to Mr. Brown’s comments regarding the Oconee County Budget, Mr. Rabun informed those present of the following:
Pickens County has eight convenience centers, Oconee County has eleven convenience centers; Pickens County has forty-six full time employees in the Solid Waste Department, Oconee County has forty-three full time employees and both Counties have C&D Landfills.
Minutes, Special Meeting, Oconee County Council June 14, 2005
Public Hearing RE: Ordinance 2005-10 Continued:
Pickens County has twenty nine employees in the Road Department, Oconee County has thirty-five employees; Pickens County has six hundred, seventy-five paved roadways, Oconee County has four hundred, forty paved roadways; Pickens County has twenty-five dirt roads and Oconee County has one hundred, eighty dirt roads. Pickens County also has a $20.00 vehicle fee.
Adoption of Ordinance 2005-10:
Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 3 – 2 (Mr. Moore & Mr. Crumpton voting against) that Ordinance 2005-10, “THE FISCAL YEAR 2005-06 BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE FOR OCONEE COUNTY” be adopted on second reading.
Ordinance 2005-11:
Council then conducted a public hearing to receive written and/or oral comments regarding Ordinance 2005-11, “THE FISCAL YEAR 2005-06 BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OCONEE COUNTY”
Mr. B. J. Littleton stated he felt the School District budget is too high.
Ms. Robin Hayes addressed Council regarding Solid Waste.
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2005-11, “THE FISCAL YEAR 2005-06 BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OCONEE COUNTY” be adopted on second reading.
Minutes, Special Meeting, Oconee County Council June 14, 2005:
Ordinance 2005-12:
Council then held a public hearing to receive written and/or oral comments regarding Ordinance 2005-12, “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FEE IN LIEU OF TAX RECEIVED BY OCONEE COUNTY PURSUANT TO THE JOINTLY OWNED AND OPERATED INDUSTRIAL/BUSINESS PARKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH PICKENS COUNTY DATED APRIL 21, 1998 AND AMENDED ON DECEMBER 1, 1998, ON DECEMBER 21, 1999, APRIL 4, 2000, JULY 15, 2003 AND MAY 17, 2005 AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY DATED JULY 7, 1994 AND AMENDED ON DECEMBER 6, 1994; SUCH INDUSTRIAL/BUSINESS PARKS BEING GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED IN PICKENS COUNTY AND OCONEE COUNTY AND WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY AND OCONEE COUNTY, BOTH ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS OF 1976 §4-1-170, ET SEQUITUR, AS AMENDED; SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF FEES IN LIEU OF AD VALOREM TAX WITHIN OCONEE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE RELEVANT TAXING ENTITIES”.
There was no one present with either written and/or oral comments regarding Ordinance 2005-12.
Adjourn:
There was no old or new business, Council adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted:
_________________________
Opal O. Green
Clerk to Council